Dieter Glemser, a former Mercedes-Benz works driver who later won the European Touring Car Championship and remained a prominent figure in motorsports for decades, has died. He was 87.
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Mercedes-Benz announced that Glemser died June 10.
Born in Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany, in 1938, Glemser began his racing career in the early 1960s and quickly earned a place on the Mercedes-Benz works team under racing director Karl Kling.
Among his early accomplishments were victories in the 1963 Poland Rally and strong finishes in major international touring-car events driving Mercedes-Benz's famed "Racing Fintail" models. He also helped Mercedes-Benz achieve multiple podium finishes in endurance races, including the demanding Argentine Grand Prix for touring cars.
Glemser later raced for Porsche and Ford, enjoying some of the most successful years of his career with Ford's touring-car program. In 1971, he won the European Touring Car Championship driving a Ford Capri RS 2600. He followed that with victory in the 24 Hours of Spa in 1972 and German Racing Championship titles in 1973 and 1974.
A serious accident in Macau in late 1974 brought an end to his driving career.
Glemser remained active in motorsports as a team manager, adviser, instructor and organizer. He helped establish Porsche's 944 Turbo Cup and later spent a decade overseeing organizational matters for Mercedes-Benz's motorsports department.
"Dieter Glemser was not only a fast racing driver but also an inspiring mentor," Mercedes-Benz Heritage CEO Marcus Breitschwerdt said in a statement.
Glemser also served for years as a Mercedes-Benz Classic brand ambassador, appearing at historic racing and automotive events around the world.
